As announced today, EnStream LP, a joint venture of Bell Mobility Inc., Rogers Wireless Partnership and TELUS Communications Company named RIM's Secure Element Manager Solution as the answer to power NFC mobile payments in Canada.

"RIM is very pleased to play a key role in this Canadian mobile payments solution," said Andrew MacLeod, Managing Director for Canada at RIM. "Working with EnStream, we're delivering a service that will enable speed, security and convenience in mobile, contactless payment. RIM's SEM solution will help deliver mobile payments and other NFC services to all carriers across all handset platforms that support NFC technology in Canada."

Using the security provided by the RIM network and infrastructure will make it easy on financial institutions as they will now only have to take care of one gateway to handle all transactions across carriers and mobile platforms. Something that will go a long way for even further widespread NFC adoption in Canada. If you're looking for the full details, the press release can be found below.

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 22, 2012) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced that it has been selected by EnStream LP, a joint venture of Bell Mobility Inc., Rogers Wireless Partnership and TELUS Communications Company, to provide its Secure Element Manager (SEM) solution to manage credentials on wireless handsets in Canada that support Near Field Communication (NFC) services. NFC is the technology that can make secure, convenient and contactless mobile payments a reality for Canadian wireless handset users.

RIM's SEM solution is designed to securely manage credentials on SIM (subscriber identity module) cards installed in all types of mobile devices, including BlackBerry® smartphones, Android™ devices, and Windows phones. "We selected RIM for their long-standing relationships with mobile operators and financial institutions, and their track record of operating a secure network for connected services," said Almis Ledas, Chief Operating Officer of EnStream. "By adopting the secure GSMA Global Platform standard and using SEM infrastructure hosted and operated by RIM, consumers and financial institutions can have full confidence in financial credentials enabled through EnStream."

"More than 1 in 4 smartphones shipped worldwide in 2013 is expected to include NFC technology," said senior practice director Jeff Orr of market intelligence firm ABI Research. "With an additional 5 million NFC-enabled smartphones shipping to Canada next year and upwards of 65 million over the next 5 years, consumers will increasingly turn to mobile payments instead of a separate debit or credit card."

"RIM is very pleased to play a key role in this Canadian mobile payments solution," said Andrew MacLeod, Managing Director for Canada at RIM. "Working with EnStream, we're delivering a service that will enable speed, security and convenience in mobile, contactless payment. RIM's SEM solution will help deliver mobile payments and other NFC services to all carriers across all handset platforms that support NFC technology in Canada."

Through the infrastructure that RIM's SEM solution provides, financial institutions in Canada will have a single gateway allowing them to support any customer with an NFC-enabled smartphone that wants to enable a "mobile wallet" application. RIM's SEM solution provides the infrastructure that will securely manage information credentials for NFC payments, which can be used by any financial institution, carrier, or smartphone.

"For banks and for Canadian consumers, RIM's SEM solution is designed to make payment with your smartphone both seamless and secure. Whether you're filling your gas tank, picking up a coffee, or buying groceries, making a purchase will be as simple as tapping your smartphone," added MacLeod.

RIM has been recognized as a leader in providing mobile payments for some time with BlackBerry smartphones becoming one of the first smartphones to be certified for SIM-secure NFC payments using MasterCard PayPass®, and are also approved for use with Visa® payWave. More recently, RIM announced the ability to use NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphones to replace access badges for buildings with secure entry requirements.

Currently, a range of BlackBerry® 7 smartphones, including the BlackBerry® Bold™ series and select BlackBerry® Curve™ smartphones, are NFC-enabled.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Reader comments

Unfortunately T-Mobile US went with ISIS, and I still don't have NFC on my T-Mo 9900. I'm hoping the ISIS is an Epic fail and US carriers look to RIM too. Awesome to see that RIM is doing this not just for BB devices, but the others too. I think we are starting to see how RIM will deal with reductions in BIS fees, offset them with new services on there Secure Network!

7.1.0.284 (998). Haven't been shown an updated one via the desktop manager. When I check for OTA too it says it is up to date. Are you on T-Mobile USA? They have not allowed it and I don't like going with hybrid OS route.

I have the same version running on my 9900 with T-Mobile USA as well and have the same issue. I called and talked to them and they don’t have a date when this will be available or when the next update release will be witch really sucks. I don’t think they are bad carriers but they really need to step it up.

I believe you are confusing the issues. RIM has also signed up with ISIS as far as I am aware and so I assume that to the extent NFC has been included on phones it would include a Secure Element chip compliant with the ISIS system. The question is whether ISIS has employed a Secure Element manager system akin to what is being employed by the Canadian carriers as described in this press release. I am not sure that is the case, in which case it would seem there is opportunity here for RIM with carriers around the world. Alot of articles have talked about the reason why mobile payments have not taken off, and I think the answer is not that complicated - all the pieces are not yet in place. Once they are, mobile payments will become the standard, and I think RIM has brought another piece to the table, in much the same way as they made mobile email communication a standard not just by giving people the communication devices, but also by giving companies and mobile operators a way to manage that communication.

Here's an interesting portion of the CTV article on the big RIM win in this crucial space. Looks like the other fruit company's phones are being left further and further behind.....

"Newer BlackBerry smartphones, including the latest models in stores, have the ability to make mobile payments as do some phones using the Android operating system. The new iPhone 5, however does not have Near Field Communication short-range wireless technology to link to credit card information.
EnStream chief operating officer Almis Ledas said the company will have to wait until the next model of iPhone, likely due sometime next year, before it will be able to consider supporting encrypted payments on an Apple device.
"We intend to support the global platform standard for handset connectivity and if the iPhone has a Near Field Communication capability we'll support it -- if it doesn't, there's not much we can do about it," Ledas said.
In the meantime, Rogers (TSX:RCI.B) and CIBC already have announced they will launch Canada's first mobile payments system later this year, giving Canadians the ability to pay with their credit card using a smartphone."

Can someone explain in simple terms what someone in Canada can do now with the 9900 in terms of NFC? Can I use it as my debit card? credit card?

I see a lot of talk about plans for this and that, but what can I literally sign up for today? I really like the potential of my NFC feature but I have never had to turn it on. I am sure there are others here who would like to know. Perhaps someone that is in the know for NFC in Canada can write something.

4. Say goodbye to your key: use this same contactless card system can be used for entry into apartments, club houses, fitness centers, etc.

5. You can link a Bank auto-pay to automatically top-up this contactless smart card (it is basically a debit card system).

6. Citibank has a credit card that also include this contactless smart card, so literally this one contactless smart card can pay for anything; you can almost live without your wallet with you!
[We can actually tape this Citibank credit card + contactless smart card to the bank of a BlackBerry 9900 for a DIY solution to smart card payment!!)

Note: We are writing this in hopes of BB10 leveraging its early NFC lead; this posting is not trying to elevate the perceived lifestyle in Asia or North America in any way.

RIM needs to build up the NFC patent portfolio and get contracts like this the world over.

Another area RIM needs to really push NFC adoption and solutions is through QNX to automakers as NFC is the answer to pairing your phone with your car. Right now every automaker is different and NFC offers a dead simple solution that could really lead to hands free usage in cars explode.

Great news for RIM and they are certainly in a position to be a leader in this field

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